Study links artificially sweetened drinks to higher Type 2 diabetes risk
Heat rises, and what better way to stay hydrated than by drinking liquids? Unfortunately, sugary drinks often get more attention as thirst quenchers than healthier water. But reaching for that can of artificially sweetened soda, thinking it is a healthier choice than regular soda may have consequences beyond simply quenching your thirst.
Drinking one can of an artificially sweetened soft drink a day may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 38%, according to an Australian study. The risk was higher than the 23% increase found among people who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages such as regular soft drinks.
Researchers from Monash University, RMIT University and Cancer Council Victoria followed more than 36,000 Australian adults for nearly 14 years. The study, published in Diabetes & Metabolism, was led by Distinguished Professor Barbora de Courten, Associate Professor Allison Hodge and Monash PhD student Robel Hussen Kabthymer.
The researchers found that drinking one or more sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages each day was linked to a significantly higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. While the link between sugary drinks and diabetes could largely be explained by obesity, the association with artificially sweetened drinks remained strong after adjusting for body weight, suggesting a possible direct effect on metabolism.
The findings challenge the common assumption that artificially sweetened beverages are a safer option for people at risk of diabetes, de Courten said. She also said public health measures should focus on reducing consumption of all non-nutritive beverages, rather than sugary drinks alone, because artificially sweetened products are often marketed as healthier alternatives.
The study used data from the long-running Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, also known as Health 2020, which included participants aged 40 to 69. The analysis accounted for diet, exercise, education and health history.
Type 2 diabetes affects about 1.3 million Australians and more than 500 million people worldwide, with most cases linked to diet and lifestyle.
Category: Education
